The 106 Common Mistakes Homebuyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Everything first-timers need to know to avoid the most common mistakes homebuyers make

Written especially for first-timers, this eye-opening guide turns you into an educated consumer, ensuring that the home or condo you buy is both a comfortable place to live and a great investment for the future. Compiled from the experience of hundreds of homebuyers, real estate agents, home builders, and mortgage lenders, it shows you the most common mistakes buyers make and illustrates them in practice so you don't fall into the same traps.

Now revised and updated for today's hot real estate market, this invaluable resource covers everything from negotiating with sellers and making the down payment to shopping for the best mortgage and handling the closing. The new Fourth Edition also includes totally up-to-date guidance on using the Internet to find properties, secure financing, and collect important data. If you're thinking about buying a home in this overheated market, don't make these mistakes:

• Researching selling prices and still overpaying
• Believing everything your agent tells you
• Buying into an upscale neighborhood that's moving downscale
• Underestimating utilities and other costs
• Allowing your agent to negotiate for you
• Letting fear get the better of you and not buying at all